Pep Guardiola Insists Manchester City Are “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” Amid Alleged Rules Breaches

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to La Liga president Javier Tebas’s comments that most Premier League clubs want City punished for alleged rules breaches. Guardiola stated that every Premier League team would rather City not fight the allegations, but insists his club is “innocent until proven guilty.”

“He may be right,” Guardiola said. “Every Premier League team wants us to be sanctioned. That’s for sure. I agree with Tebas for the first time, and I hope it’s the last. But in modern democracy, there is justice. So wait for the decision.”

Guardiola emphasized that City believes they did nothing wrong and will go to the independent panel to present their case. “We will go to the independent panel and wait. Okay,” he said.

A trial on 115 charges of violating city regulations is scheduled to begin Monday.

Javier Tebas claims most Premier League clubs believe City should be sanctioned.

The trial, which is expected to last 10 weeks, will focus on allegations that City’s Abu Dhabi owners funneled money to the club disguised as sponsorship income to create a sound financial framework and allow spending to be carried out at a level that did not breach Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

At least 54 of the 115 breaches relate to City failing to provide accurate financial information about the club’s revenue. Much of the evidence comes from a cache of emails uncovered on the so-called Football Leaks website, run by self-taught Portuguese computer genius Rui Pinto.

The city, which is seeking a fifth consecutive title, appeals its position to an independent inquiry.

Pinto’s credibility and reputation are likely to be central to the argument presented to the committee. For some, the Portuguese is a controversial figure, now in a safe house for his own protection, with revelations that extend far beyond City.

Much of the evidence about City comes from emails revealed by the so-called Football Leaks.

The decision of the independent disciplinary committee will have significant implications for Manchester City’s future, and the club is confident they can win the case and emerge from the shadow that has hung over them since they were charged two years ago.